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Neil Jacobstein artificial intelligence AI Nasa Research Park Singularity University SingularityU India Summit Elon Musk Bill Gates
AI on par with human intelligence is many years away: Neil Jacobstein
By Nand Kishor |Email | May 12, 2017 | 4914 Views
Neil Jacobstein chairs the artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics track at Singularity University on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) Research Park campus in Mountain View, California. A former CEO of Teknowledge Corp., an early AI company, Jacobstein was in India recently to speak at the two-day SingularityU India Summit (held recently in association with INK, which hosts events such as INKtalks for the exchange of cutting-edge ideas). In an interview, Jacobstein talks about the confusion around AI, how job losses from AI should be tackled and the possibilities of a brighter future for humanity. Edited excerpts:
There are several definitions of AI. Which one is your favourite?
Artificial intelligence allows us to create pattern-recognition and problem-solving capability in a computer, using software algorithms. AI allows us to tackle practical business and technical problems, and it presents an opportunity for us to allow computers to do things that previously only humans did.
There seems to be a lot of confusion about what AI can or cannot do. What is your reading of the prevailing situation?
I think part of the confusion in the market might be that science-fiction movies have given people very vivid and sometimes incorrect view of what AI is capable of doing. Today, we have AI that is already at human levels of problem-solving in very narrow domains such as chess or go (a Japanese board game) or certain kinds of medical diagnostics. But we don't have human-level AI that is general across the board. So we don't have AI with natural language understanding at human level, and we don't have AI that has humour or empathy at human levels. So it's a kind of mixed landscape.
When do you think will we achieve "true AI", so to say? What are the challenges to be overcome?
We have already achieved true AI in the sense of creating problem-solvers that add billions of dollars of value every year to various industries. That's happening now. But if you are referring to artificial general intelligence that is at human levels, I think that probably won't happen for several years: it could be as early as mid-2020s or as late as 2030s. The critical thing is not the time frame but the consequences of having AI at a human level and what that means for jobs, for global security, and for opportunity to solve problems.
While there are those who believe in the potential of AI and its applications, a sizeable number- including Stephen Hawking, Bill Gates and Elon Musk-have expressed fears that AI-powered machines could rule over humans. What's your take on this?
To his credit, Elon has changed his views on this over time. He has invested over $1 billion in an entity called OpenAI to democratize access to AI and to create new AI test beds and capabilities that will allow us to build layers of control into AI software. He has also participated in creating conferences on the future of AI and sponsored Future of Life Institute's conferences around developing new principles of AI safety, the so-called Asilomar 23 principles (futureoflife.org/ai-principles). So he's interested in capturing the benefits of AI and wants to help us work systematically to reduce the downside risk. Read More
Source: Mint
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Ski Federation Chief Praises Sochi 2014
(ATR) Gian Franco Kasper tells ATR that the Winter Games were surprisingly strong in some respects.
Note: Around the Rings spoke with Kasper prior to Russian skier Maria Komissarova's announcement that her accident in Sochi left her paralyzed. ATR has reached out to the International Ski Federation for comment and will provide that reaction as soon as it is available.
International Ski Federation (FIS) president Gian Franco Kasper tells Around the Rings that the Sochi 2014 Games were a great success, admitting that he was even quite surprised regarding some aspects.
Forty-nine of the 98 medal events fell under the auspices of FIS, including nine of the 12 events making their Olympic debut in Sochi.
"We had excellent Olympic Games. The Russians did an outstanding job. There's no question," Kasper told ATR. "We knew that the venues and sport aspect would be OK from our test events, but even the logistics and transportation around the Olympics worked very well."
Kasper thought that the nine new FIS events added to the Olympic program - four freestyle skiing, four snowboarding, and ladies' ski jumping - were well received.
"I think the new events are a little more joyful and youthful," Kasper said. "I don't know if it will be the same success over the next four years, but at least here, it brought a new flavor to the Games so we are quite happy with the success."
Kasper, who said at the FIS Alpine World Cup opener in Soelden, Austria last October that he was very concerned that the atmosphere at ski and snowboard events in Sochi would be lacking, admitted he was pleasantly surprised.
The b"If the Russians had a chance or at least participated, you automatically had a good atmosphere, but in most of the events the Russians were not really present so that made it difficult," Kasper said. "It was not as bad as I expected."
"We were afraid we would not see too many people walking around, and even here in the Rosa Khutor village in the afternoon, there were a lot of people around, so it was better than we expected," Kasper said.
Kasper, who has served as an IOC member since 2000 and also on the Sochi 2014 Coordination Commission, said that the presence of security and soldiers at venues was not overwhelming.
"I saw less security than in London, when you felt it more," said Kasper, referring to the 2012 Summer Games. "Here, there was a lot of security, of course.
"I even saw something incredible: Russian policeman and soldiers smiling at you. This is quite unique. Of course, they were educated in this way, but I think this was typical of these Games."
In regards to what could have been done better, Kasper replied, "The political part should have probably been better."
Although there were some minor scheduling changes to mountain events due to weather, Kasper said it could have been considerably worse.
"It is often bad weather here in Sochi, but out of the 16 days, we had only one heavy day with rain and another day a little bit," he said.
"Let's be honest: we got lucky."
Lastly, the 69-year-old FIS chief addressed the question that everyone seems to be wondering – what will the legacy of these Sochi 2014 Games be?
"We always think in the same way: the last ones were the best ones and you cannot do it in a better way. After Beijing, people said it would be impossible, but then London was better.
"I think it's a normal development; it shouldn't be bigger, but better. I don't know what could be better compared to here, but of course, things change."
Written by Brian Pinelli
20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.
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China calls for an end of 'U.S. interference' in Beijing Olympics
In a conference call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, China had several demands for the U.S. ahead of the Beijing Games
Guest columnist Usain Bolt reflects on his time in Beijing
The eight-time Olympic gold medalist, now retired, thinks back to Beijing 2008 and how those Games and the city changed his life forever
"If we achieve unity, we will have a strong candidacy," Alejandro Blanco insisted on the project for the Winter Olympics bid for 2030
The President of the Spanish Olympic Committee has minimized the controversy of recent days and recalled the Olympic project is presented by the COE and backed by the government
"Si logramos la unión tendremos una candidatura fuerte", insistió Alejandro Blanco sobre el proyecto de los Juegos Olímpicos Invernales en 2030
El Presidente del Comité Olímpico Español ha minimizado la polémica de los últimos días y recordó que el proyecto olímpico lo presenta el COE respaldado por el Gobierno
THE COLUMN: World tension due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict welcomes the Olympic Truce
This January 27, the call for a ceasefire in all armed conflicts across the world made by the United Nations was opened on the occasion of the Winter Olympics in Beijing
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MTK Golden Contract Quarter-Finals Results
Posted on October 5, 2019 by ericadminchia
By: Ste Rowen
York Hall, London was the setting for the inaugural featherweight MTK Golden Contract tournament quarterfinals that saw Tyrone McCullagh, Jazza Dickens, Ryan Walsh and Leigh Wood progress to the semi-finals.
All four bouts provided their own kind of entertainment but let's start at the end.
The fourth quarter-final of the Golden Contract tournament tonight saw Leigh Wood massively impress with a fantastic performance that saw him knockdown formerly unbeaten David Oliver Joyce twice and finally force the stoppage in round nine.
Talk before the fight was wondering why Wood, the featherweight Commonwealth champion had chosen Joyce, 11-0 (8KOs), as his quarter-final opponent, considering Joyce's reputation within the boxing community, but in round two Wood landed a perfect, hard left hand that dropped the Irishman and clearly put Leigh, 22-1 (12KOs) before tonight, up on the scorecards early.
But Joyce reacted well to the knockdown, and his experience as an amateur kicked in as the fight drew into the middle rounds. Wood's power was clearly affecting the Irishman when he landed clean, but David's punch selection and speed was making it a tough fight to score. However, once again, in the 7th, Leigh Wood cracked onto the head of an open Joyce and, but for a strong display of defence and conditioning from Joyce, he struggled his way out of that particular attack but, with seconds left of the same round, the Irishman was toppled for a second time with a slightly soft knockdown. He was hit with a solid right but seemed to be dropped by a light left hand body shot. Still, the unbeaten man made it into round eight.
Then in the penultimate round of a scheduled ten, after the Commonwealth champ obviously rocked Joyce whilst he was still on his feet, the referee stepped in before any more serious damage could be done and called an end to the fourth quarter final.
''I've never been one for taking the easy route. I wanted to make a statement and I did that…I just didn't wanna upset my corner. I moved and showed my power. People don't believe I have power, but I did it.
I think I beat the best kid, so bring it on.''
Tyrone McCullagh got the MTK Golden Contract quarter-finals underway with a conclusive decision victory over Razaq Najib.
It was sloppy from the start by both the southpaw, McCullagh and late replacement, Najib, 11-3 (2KOs), before tonight, with both men seemingly more happy to swing and clinch that take on a more technical approach to the bout. The unbeaten man from Northern Ireland was struggling to get to grips with the awkward, Razaq but as the rounds passed on Tyrone's good work was overshadowing 'Lionheart's' spoiling style. Whilst Najib continuously struggled to close the distance, McCullagh countered at an almost perfect rate. The fight went the full 10-round distance with the final scorecards returning as, 97-93, 98-92, 96-94 all for McCullagh.
''I thought I controlled most of the fight.'' Now 14-0 (6KOS) Tyron said post-fight. ''It was good to get the ring-rust off. We're working everyday hard in the gym.
I have aspirations of winning the tournament, but I want the performances to be better.''
James 'Jazza' Dickens, 27-3 (11KOs) heading into tonight, improved his winning column to 28 as he scored a decision victory of Carlos Ramos.
Dickens, of Liverpool was keen to set fire to the bout and excite the crowd earlier as he swung with fury in the early rounds but for the most part, Ramos did well to avoid his opponent's best shots as well was landing his own fairly decent body shots. Carlos, a southpaw like Dickens, seemed happy enough to fight off the back foot as the fight continued beyond the middle rounds of another scheduled ten, but Jazza's selection of punches seemed superior to the Spaniard's occasional spurts. The hard work paid off for the Brit as he scored a knockdown in the 4th round, landing a right-left to the crown, but Ramos, 11-1 (7KOs) responded well with some sharp left hooks to the body to end the round.
As the fight headed into the final two rounds, it became much more tit-for-tat than the fiery exchanges of the earlier rounds and both fighter's inside game suddenly became crucial to the scoring of the bout. Dickens jumped to the corner when the final bell rang for the second quarter final. The final scorecards came back as, 97-92, 99-91, 97-92 all for Dickens, and the IBF European champion spoke immediately after,
''We knew he was tough, game and had one shot but we went from there. He was dangerous but we put him on the backfoot and boxed.''
The third quarter-final of the night saw British featherweight champion, Ryan Walsh, now Walsh, 25-2-2 (12KOs) blasted out the previously unbeaten Hairon Socarras in the penultimate round to progress to the semi-finals.
Socarras, 22-0-3 (14KOs) when he stepped into the ring, seemed to make a more successful 1st round but Walsh began to rough up his Cuban foe as the bout hit the midway point. And with the momentum behind him, the British champ scored the first official knockdown where he landed a precise left hand, sending Hairon sprawling with only the ropes to keep him standing. Three rounds later, the fight had switched back to a much more technical event, with both men seeming to be looking for the point scoring shots rather than the finisher, that was until with thirty seconds left of the 9th, Walsh landed a dislodging right hook, once again sticking Socarras to the ropes and the Brit unleashed an almost non-stop fury of punches until the referee stepped in and ended the bout, rocketing Ryan into the semi-finals.
''After I win this tournament, I'm taking my kids to Euro Disney. My team are my family.''
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Home » Film » Bryce Dallas Howard on "The Help": "I Loved Playing a Character That I Didn't Have to Worry About Being Likable"
Bryce Dallas Howard on "The Help": "I Loved Playing a Character That I Didn't Have to Worry About Being Likable"
By Alex Rice	 August 16, 2011 No Comments
In a recent interview with Moviefone, The Help's Bryce Dallas Howard talked about playing a rich snob in the new movie, which tells the story of a group of African-American maids in 1960s Mississippi.
Talking about the film's sometimes-heavy subject material, Howard said, "There are scenes that I would never want to go back and do ever, ever again. But there were a lot more scenes that were so fun because (Howard's character) Hilly's getting what she deserves… Those were incredibly fun."
The 30-year-old actress has appeared in Spider-Man 3 and The Twilight Saga: Eclipse in addition to her leading role in The Help, which also stars Emma Stone and Allison Janney, among others.
"I loved playing a character that I didn't have to worry about being appealing or likable or attractive in any way, that gave me a real sense of freedom," Howard explained. "It's a character that's so different from myself that I didn't have to worry about making her different from me, whereas sometimes you play a normal person and you don't want to be playing yourself so you come up with these things and they're not necessarily organic to the movie. For me, it's way easier to plan an extreme."
Alex Rice
How Jason Scott Lee Was Rejected and Then Cast as the Villain in Disney's 'Mulan'
Kate Winslet on Early Success, Becoming an Actor and Believing in Yourself


How to Add a Crematorium to Your Funeral Services?
Are You in the Process of Adding a Crematorium to Your Services?
The rise in popularity of cremation across the world has funeral directors considering adding a crematorium to their space. You may have already decided to invest in adding cremation services.
The next step is to choose your cremation equipment. When it comes to your business, change that involves a great financial impact is not taken lightly. This puts a lot of pressure on choosing the right equipment to cater your company's needs.
What qualities make the best cremation equipment?
Cremation Systems, a division of Armil CFS, has years of experience in custom manufacturing of high temp process equipment, furnaces, kilns and incineration equipment. With almost 50 years of furnace technology behind it, Cremation Systems' CFS 2300 is the most fuel efficient, user friendly cremation chamber on the market today. Cremation Systems latest innovations – Tek Marshal, Fire Marshal and the Quick Change Hearth, available only in our CFS 2300 equipment, provides our customers with a unit that has the lowest operating cost in the industry. The unparalleled installation services and remote monitoring capabilities of Cremation Systems have raised the industry standard of cremation equipment.


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Music|Lil Nas X Comes Out on Last Day of Pride Month
Lil Nas X Comes Out on Last Day of Pride Month
The 20-year-old "Old Town Road" rapper pointed to the lyrics of "c7osure," a song off his new EP, as confirmation of his sexuality.
Lil Nas X performing "Old Town Road" at the BET awards last week. The rapper's coming out on social media feels fitting, as he built his fame as an amateur meme maker.CreditCreditJean-Baptiste Lacroix/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
By Julia Jacobs
Lil Nas X thought he had made it obvious.
But if fans needed more clarity about the "Old Town Road" rapper's sexuality, he gave it to them on Sunday during the final hours of Pride month. In a tweet, Lil Nas X, 20, pointed to the lyrics of "c7osure," a song on his debut EP, as confirmation that he identifies as a member of the L.G.B.T.Q. community.
some of y'all already know, some of y'all don't care, some of y'all not gone fwm no more. but before this month ends i want y'all to listen closely to c7osure. 🌈🤩✨ pic.twitter.com/O9krBLllqQ
— nope (@LilNasX) June 30, 2019
In the song's lyrics, Lil Nas X sings, "Ain't no more actin', man that forecast say I should just let me grow." Later he says, "This is what I gotta do, can't be regrettin' when I'm old."
A few hours later, Lil Nas X posted the album art for his eight-song EP, called "7," on Twitter. It features Lil Nas X in his cowboy gear, riding a horse and looking out on a skyline bright with rainbow lights.
Lil Nas X's coming out on social media feels fitting, as he built his fame as an amateur meme maker, using his internet savvy to help make "Old Town Road" into a cultural phenomenon. The song, which he calls a "country-trap" hybrid, took off as the soundtrack to a dance challenge on the social network Tik Tok, quickly turning into a viral meme. It's now entering its 13th week at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
In Lil Nas X's first tweet addressing his sexuality, he suggested that the news could cost him some fans.
Watch how an unknown Atlanta artist used his meme-making skills and a country-trap beat from the Netherlands to bring "Old Town Road" to the top of the Billboard charts.CreditCreditMatt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Stagecoach
He is part of a pop landscape that has increasingly welcomed performers who have come out as queer, bisexual or gay. While mainstream gay megastars remain relatively rare in the worlds of country, rap and even pop, many genre-spanning artists, from Frank Ocean, Tyler the Creator, and Kevin Abstract to Janelle Monáe, Brandi Carlile and Troye Sivan, have spoken openly or written songs about same-sex attraction and relationships. And as acceptance of sexuality has become more widespread in culture generally, many younger artists have eschewed the need for major coming-out announcements in favor of more matter-of-fact acknowledgment.
But Lil Nas X's tweets were met with an outpouring of support from fans online, many of them promising to spring to his defense if he became a target because of his sexuality.
Joe Coscarelli contributed reporting.
"Old Town Road" was just the beginning for the 20-year-old rapper and meme artist.
The Short Rise and Long Tail of Lil Nas X
'Old Town Road': See How Memes and Controversy Took Lil Nas X to the Top of the Charts
A version of this article appears in print on , Section C, Page 3 of the New York edition with the headline: Lil Nas X Comes Out At End of Pride Month. Order Reprints | Today's Paper | Subscribe


The national flag of Zambia was created in October 1964.
It is completely covered in green, except with the black, orange, and red stripes at the right-hand corner. It has a golden eagle on top of the multi colored stripes. It has a ratio of 2:3.
The flag's colours and emblems all have a meaning. Each of the four colours represents an aspect of Zambia: green is for the natural resources and vegetation; red is for the struggle for freedom; black is for the people and orange is for rhe mineral wealth (primarily copper). The eagle is an African fish eagle, which also appears in the national coat of arms and represents the people's ability to rise above the country's problems.
↑ "The World Factbook -Africa:Zambia - Flag" (PDF). CIA. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
This page was last changed on 9 March 2018, at 07:49.


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It is obvious that Kitchen must be on top priority when it comes to cleaning tasks at home. And the reason is quite simple that it is the place where we prepare food and it should be kept clean. The other reason is maintaining proper food items are an economically great idea. Also, cleanliness is not only the major issue; it is also about healthy lifestyle. Let's not forget that cleaning and maintaining kitchen gadgets extend the life of your appliances. Now, after knowing the benefits of a clean kitchen, we have mentioned different life hacks and easy tips to keep your kitchen clean.
Get rid of dirty kitchen towel and replace it up with a fresh & clean one. This is one of the most important tasks to do but often neglected.
Freshen up your kitchen with the use of lemon to avoid the killing smell from waste and ensure regular dispose of kitchen waste.
Keep the sink clean. Wash dishes regularly by yourself or ask your maid to do the same for you. Regularly clean the water stains and other spots with the help of vinegar and lemon.
Make sure that your stove top is clean. If no, clean it up with the help of baking soda and water. Scrub it well and wipe it off with the help of a sponge.
Clean your kitchen appliances with the help of lemon, baking soda or other cleaning agents. This will definitely increase the life of your kitchen gadgets and efficient. This includes your electric grinders, juicers, microwave, oven and of course, the refrigerator.
Properly maintain the food items. You would have certainly heard that one rotten apple spoils other apples too. Therefore, it is an essential step to manage the food articles and place them in the refrigerator or at the right place where suppose to be.
Keep an eye on insect activity. Regularly check that there are no leftovers or spilled food particles that attract insect invaders. Therefore infect check-on is a prime factor of kitchen cleaning to control germs and viruses that lead to serious health issues such as food poisoning etc.
Mopping and dusting should be done on daily basis. You just can't afford such negligence. Imagine food particles scattered on kitchen floor along with water and oil spills. This will not only give an untidy look but also can be a cause of the serious accident. Hence, safety measures should be taken care of.
So, we hope that the above-mentioned tricks and kitchen hacks will definitely do wonders for your healthy lifestyle. You can regularly perform the above tasks yourself or ask your maid to help you with them. But still, there is the requirement of deep kitchen cleaning. This is due to the reason that despite regular scrubbing, your kitchen may look clean but not germ and virus free. So, looking for professional Kitchen Cleaning Services Delhi is necessary because the expert cleaners use proper cleaning agents and latest equipment to maintain the hygiene of your kitchen. You can contact several agencies and companies that deal in kitchen cleaning services.


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Sat Sep 3rd 2022 American Airlines · AA 2953 Depart at 7:55 pm from Dallas (DFW) Fly for 1h 8m Arrive at 9:03 pm in Houston (IAH)
Sun Sep 4th 2022 United Airlines · UA 287 Depart at 6:01 pm from Albuquerque (ABQ) Fly for 1h 27m Arrive at 7:28 pm in Denver (DEN)
Sun Sep 4th 2022 United Airlines · UA 2605 Depart at 9:05 pm from Denver (DEN) Fly for 2h 22m Arrive at 12:27 am in Houston (IAH)
Sun Sep 4th 2022 United Airlines · UA 4844 Depart at 11:21 am from Albuquerque (ABQ) Fly for 2h 17m Arrive at 2:38 pm in Houston (IAH)
Mon Aug 29th 2022 United Airlines · UA 235 Depart at 5:45 am from Albuquerque (ABQ) Fly for 2h 5m Arrive at 8:50 am in Houston (IAH)
Wed Aug 31st
Wed Aug 31st 2022 United Airlines · UA 235 Depart at 5:45 am from Albuquerque (ABQ) Fly for 2h 5m Arrive at 8:50 am in Houston (IAH)
Tue Aug 30th 2022 United Airlines · UA 235 Depart at 5:45 am from Albuquerque (ABQ) Fly for 2h 5m Arrive at 8:50 am in Houston (IAH)
Tue Aug 30th 2022 United Airlines · UA 4844 Depart at 12:11 pm from Albuquerque (ABQ) Fly for 2h 17m Arrive at 3:28 pm in Houston (IAH)
Mon Aug 29th 2022 United Airlines · UA 4236 Depart at 2:50 pm from Albuquerque (ABQ) Fly for 2h 19m Arrive at 6:09 pm in Houston (IAH)
Wed Aug 31st 2022 United Airlines · UA 4236 Depart at 2:50 pm from Albuquerque (ABQ) Fly for 2h 19m Arrive at 6:09 pm in Houston (IAH)
Tue Aug 30th 2022 United Airlines · UA 4236 Depart at 2:50 pm from Albuquerque (ABQ) Fly for 2h 19m Arrive at 6:09 pm in Houston (IAH)
Sun Aug 28th
Sun Aug 28th 2022 United Airlines · UA 235 Depart at 5:40 am from Albuquerque (ABQ) Fly for 2h 2m Arrive at 8:42 am in Houston (IAH)
Sat Aug 27th
Sat Aug 27th 2022 United Airlines · UA 235 Depart at 5:45 am from Albuquerque (ABQ) Fly for 2h 5m Arrive at 8:50 am in Houston (IAH)
Sun Aug 21st
Sun Aug 21st 2022 United Airlines · UA 235 Depart at 5:45 am from Albuquerque (ABQ) Fly for 2h 5m Arrive at 8:50 am in Houston (IAH)
Mon Aug 22nd
Mon Aug 22nd 2022 United Airlines · UA 235 Depart at 5:45 am from Albuquerque (ABQ) Fly for 2h 5m Arrive at 8:50 am in Houston (IAH)
Fri Aug 26th
Fri Aug 26th 2022 United Airlines · UA 235 Depart at 5:45 am from Albuquerque (ABQ) Fly for 2h 5m Arrive at 8:50 am in Houston (IAH)
Wed Aug 24th 2022 United Airlines · UA 235 Depart at 5:45 am from Albuquerque (ABQ) Fly for 2h 5m Arrive at 8:50 am in Houston (IAH)
Tue Aug 23rd 2022 United Airlines · UA 235 Depart at 5:45 am from Albuquerque (ABQ) Fly for 2h 5m Arrive at 8:50 am in Houston (IAH)
Thu Aug 25th 2022 United Airlines · UA 235 Depart at 5:45 am from Albuquerque (ABQ) Fly for 2h 5m Arrive at 8:50 am in Houston (IAH)
Sat Aug 27th 2022 United Airlines · UA 4844 Depart at 12:11 pm from Albuquerque (ABQ) Fly for 2h 17m Arrive at 3:28 pm in Houston (IAH)
Fri Aug 26th 2022 United Airlines · UA 4844 Depart at 11:21 am from Albuquerque (ABQ) Fly for 2h 17m Arrive at 2:38 pm in Houston (IAH)
Thu Aug 25th 2022 United Airlines · UA 4844 Depart at 12:11 pm from Albuquerque (ABQ) Fly for 2h 17m Arrive at 3:28 pm in Houston (IAH)
Tue Aug 23rd 2022 United Airlines · UA 4844 Depart at 12:11 pm from Albuquerque (ABQ) Fly for 2h 17m Arrive at 3:28 pm in Houston (IAH)
Sat Aug 27th 2022 United Airlines · UA 4236 Depart at 2:50 pm from Albuquerque (ABQ) Fly for 2h 19m Arrive at 6:09 pm in Houston (IAH)
Fri Aug 26th 2022 United Airlines · UA 4236 Depart at 2:50 pm from Albuquerque (ABQ) Fly for 2h 19m Arrive at 6:09 pm in Houston (IAH)
Wed Aug 24th 2022 United Airlines · UA 4236 Depart at 2:50 pm from Albuquerque (ABQ) Fly for 2h 19m Arrive at 6:09 pm in Houston (IAH)
Thu Aug 25th 2022 United Airlines · UA 4236 Depart at 2:50 pm from Albuquerque (ABQ) Fly for 2h 19m Arrive at 6:09 pm in Houston (IAH)
Tue Aug 23rd 2022 United Airlines · UA 4236 Depart at 2:50 pm from Albuquerque (ABQ) Fly for 2h 19m Arrive at 6:09 pm in Houston (IAH)
Sat Sep 3rd 2022 United Airlines · UA 4844 Depart at 12:11 pm from Albuquerque (ABQ) Fly for 2h 17m Arrive at 3:28 pm in Houston (IAH)
Mon Aug 29th 2022 United Airlines · UA 4844 Depart at 11:21 am from Albuquerque (ABQ) Fly for 2h 17m Arrive at 2:38 pm in Houston (IAH)
Sun Sep 4th 2022 United Airlines · UA 4236 Depart at 2:50 pm from Albuquerque (ABQ) Fly for 2h 19m Arrive at 6:09 pm in Houston (IAH)
Tue Aug 23rd 2022 American Airlines · AA 941 Depart at 5:07 pm from Albuquerque (ABQ) Fly for 1h 48m Arrive at 7:55 pm in Dallas (DFW)
Layover in Dallas for 0h 45m
Tue Aug 23rd 2022 American Airlines · AA 2209 Depart at 8:40 pm from Dallas (DFW) Fly for 1h 11m Arrive at 9:51 pm in Houston (IAH)
Tue Aug 23rd 2022 American Airlines · AA 1421 Depart at 6:51 am from Albuquerque (ABQ) Fly for 1h 44m Arrive at 9:35 am in Dallas (DFW)
Tue Aug 23rd 2022 American Airlines · AA 1472 Depart at 10:36 am from Dallas (DFW) Fly for 1h 14m Arrive at 11:50 am in Houston (IAH)
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text:
arrow-left An arrow pointing left. Cadillac XT4
181.06" length, 64.06" height
View all 2019 Cadillac XT4 specs .
Small exterior, roomy interior
No-nonsense controls
Backseat space
Available rearview camera mirror
Smartphone charging pad design
Brake pedal feel
No lane-centering steering
Angled touchscreen reflects glare
Front seats need thigh extension
Active-safety features optional only on higher trims
Safety options require 20-inch wheels
Gets expensive quickly with options
Our 2019 Cadillac XT4 trim comparison will help you decide.
Subcompact/compact five-seat SUV
2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder
Nine-speed automatic transmission
Front- or all-wheel drive
Available adaptive suspension
Standard remote start on key fob
2019 Cadillac XT4 review: Our expert's take
The verdict: Cadillac's smallest new SUV packs a well-rounded and accommodating vehicle into a tidy package, but the XT4 suffers teething pains in the form of a numb brake pedal and early transmission problems.
Versus the competition: The XT4 fits well in a subcompact class that's mostly smaller, yet a price that rises quickly with options puts it in league with compact models that are mostly larger.
Caveat: This review is based on my driving a few XT4s, which I detail below, but I'm compelled first to issue a caveat regarding what might charitably be called teething pains for this new model: Consumer reviews of this new Cadillac on Cars.com — which typically are overwhelmingly positive — average a relatively low 3.5 stars, dragged down by low ratings accompanying claims of transmission failures. Eight Cars.com consumers from California to New York called out transmission problems as recently as April 26, including five replacements under warranty and one vehicle buyback.
Cadillac has not recalled the XT4, but it did issue a technical service bulletin (No. 18-NA-378) in December 2018 (and updated February 2019) with the subject "Surge, Chuggle, Fishbite, Shudder Feel During Driving Maneuvers" — a hilarious name, but probably not very funny to an XT4 owner. It details the possibility of a defective stack plate heat exchanger allowing coolant to contaminate the transmission fluid. If signs of contamination are found, both the transmission and the exchanger will be replaced under warranty.
What Is an XT4?
Many Cadillacs are the automotive equivalent of half sizes. The XT5, which competes pricewise with what we consider compact SUVs, is arguably in the mid-size class. Similarly, the XT4 starts (key word starts) at the top of the subcompact price range, at $35,790 including destination charges, but is likewise on the higher end of this class in terms of size and roominess, along with the BMW X1. Contrast that with the super-snug subcompact Infiniti QX30 and Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, which share a platform and much more (see them all side by side).
The XT4 comes in three trim levels, starting with a low-cost base version called simply Luxury. An additional $4,500 will score either a Premium Luxury or Sport trim level. I tested both versions, which totaled $55,085 and $56,835 as equipped, respectively. Visible differences are few, but you'll know you're looking at a Sport if you see a solid gloss-black grille without the chrome facets that appear on other trims. The Sport also has body-colored door handles and gloss-black roof rails and window surrounds, and its taillight lenses are white rather than red. The Premium Luxury has illuminated exterior door handles.
How It Drives
The XT4 has precise steering and just the right amount of road feel. The main mechanical difference between the Premium Luxury and Sport I drove was the Sport-exclusive Active Sport Suspension option ($1,200), which employs adaptive shock absorbers. Both had optional 20-inch wheels in place of the standard 18s. Overall, the Premium Luxury's standard suspension is firm but reasonably comfortable without losing a feel for the road, and it controls body motions well in turns. Having a longer wheelbase than most models its size surely helps, and the optional 20-inch wheels didn't seem to hurt — a good thing considering the optional Driver Assist Package, which includes adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking, requires the larger wheels. That said, we don't like seeing important safety features bundled with other items like this — especially things like larger wheels that are more susceptible to damage and, along with their larger tires, more expensive to replace.
The Active Sport Suspension manages to retain a character similar to the standard suspension's, but it ups ride comfort a bit. Following the current trend, there's little to no difference in ride firmness when you switch the XT4 into Sport mode so long as you're driving straight. The value in adaptive suspensions is how they monitor conditions and adjust automatically, such as controlling body roll in turns. Though this system uses more conventional adaptive shocks rather than the magnetic system GM uses in some models, Cadillac says they can change damping 500 times a second. The difference between these two adaptive suspension types is minimal compared with a suspension equipped with neither.
Because of its effect on the drivetrain, you might want to use Sport mode all the time; it holds low gears longer and reduces steering boost. (It isn't the default mode simply because it's less efficient.) In models without the adaptive suspension, these are the only changes Sport mode makes. It doesn't seem to change the accelerator pedal sensitivity — or at least does so minimally — to which I say, hallelujah. My only objection to the drive modes is that one button cycles through them, and the selection isn't as obvious in the instrument panel or optional head-up display as it could be. An up/down rocker or separate buttons for each mode is a better approach.
The XT4 marks the debut of a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with variable valve lift and, in limited circumstances, active fuel management (the deactivation of two cylinders). Fortunately, the tech hocus-pocus felt seamless, and the four-cylinder easily went about its job of providing 237 horsepower and a stout 258 pounds-feet of torque from 1,500 to 4,000 rpm. Cadillac says 97 percent of the car's peak torque is on tap up to 5,000 rpm.
On the road, the XT4 is no speed demon, but it's more than adequately powered and the experience is as positive as the torque specs suggest. Unfortunately, it doesn't sound so great, especially at high revs. Some people object to artificial augmentation of engine sound through the stereo, but this is yet another turbo four-cylinder that reminds me of that particular parlor trick's merit.
Should Cadillac decide to build a more powerful V-Sport or full-blown V-Series version of the XT4, the vehicles I tested felt like they could handle it.
Seeing a nine-speed automatic transmission struck terror initially — even before we'd learned of the related technical service bulletin — because I associate that number with a nine-speed transmission supplied by Germany's ZF that I've declared irredeemable when paired with small engines in everything from Jeeps to Land Rovers. But this transmission is GM's, and unlike some of the problems owners have reported, it behaved fine for us — much better than the ZF, with reasonable responsiveness and minimal hunting. I can't say it's a favorite because it isn't as quick as the eight-speed in the Alfa Romeo Stelvio (our most fun compact), and it freewheels too long between gears when downshifting manually with the paddles, but that isn't likely to register with casual drivers; I'd take it over any continuously variable automatic transmission, such as that in the compact Infiniti QX50 SUV, and certainly over the ZF nine-speed.
All-Wheel Drive — or Not
Both of my test vehicles had optional all-wheel drive ($2,500), which is designed to decouple completely when Touring drive mode is selected. In that case, the XT4 reverts to front-wheel drive and stays that way even if the wheels slip. Both the AWD and Sport modes activate the system, which employs two additional clutches in the rear differential to send all available torque to one or the other rear wheel when needed. In spirited driving, the XT4 feels more balanced with AWD activated. What's the cost of keeping it on? Engineers say as much as 1 mpg.
The EPA-estimated ratings are 24/30/26 mpg city/highway/combined for front-wheel-drive-only models and 22/29/24 mpg with all-wheel drive, both on required premium gasoline. This is decent mileage compared with subcompact luxury competitors and good compared with most compacts. Among 2019 front-drive subcompacts, the XT4 matches the BMW X1 sDrive28i (26 mpg combined) and is just behind the Infiniti QX30 and Mercedes-Benz GLA250 (27 mpg), but it falls farther behind the Buick Encore (28 mpg) and the most efficient version of the Volvo XC40: the T4 with FWD (29 mpg).
Most of the larger, compact luxury models are thirstier, but there are exceptions: The 2019 BMW X3 sDrive30i matches the XT4, and the 2019 Infiniti QX50 edges it out with 27 mpg combined.
Those Brakes …
The brakes mark the Cadillac debut of electrohydraulic by-wire power brake assist in place of the usual vacuum assist — a design that's just beginning to proliferate in the market. Cadillac says this approach cuts down on parasitic losses and has other benefits, including consistency, extended hill holding and stronger pressure for panic-braking assist.
In practice, the braking proved merely OK. I don't question its ability to stop the XT4 quickly, but the pedal is hard and a bit difficult to modulate smoothly. In my experience, the average driver doesn't pay much attention to pedal feel, but I think this might be bad enough to land on the average driver's radar. All our editors commented on it, and the best anyone said was "the pedal feel isn't great."
I support the move toward by-wire brakes because of all the potential advantages and because using vacuum in a car is terribly outdated. I think what we're seeing here is exactly what we experienced with the first couple of generations of electric power steering: a worthy modernization that has the potential not merely to equal but to surpass the old way of doing things — but that isn't ready for prime time yet.
Cue the New CUE
Fortunately, Cadillac ditched the touch-sensitive panels long associated with earlier generations of Cadillac User Experience and went with a generous selection of conventional, mechanical buttons. There's also an 8-inch touchscreen that's pretty well-laid-out, has quality maps, and supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
I'd like the volume knob on the dashboard better than the center console, but at least there is one. It doubles as a track-skip joystick and is accompanied by direct-access buttons for the audio, navigation and phone menus, as well as a rotary knob that lets you move around the display if you don't want to, uh, touch the touchscreen. Given the display's relatively low placement and the fact that it's a touchscreen, these controls simply aren't necessary. But, they do no harm — and if you're finicky about fingerprints on your displays, they will mitigate that. In a class with maddening touchpad controllers and no-touch displays from the likes of Acura and Lexus, I can't overstate what a big deal this simple touchscreen system is.
My main criticism regarding Cadillac's approach is the touchscreen's angle: it's tilted away from occupants rather than facing them directly. It might look neater this way, but it results in too many reflections. I know some people object to a floating display that they say looks like it was added after the fact, so I'm guessing the form-follows-function warriors lost this battle. Some Honda touchscreens are angled back but mitigate the glare with a matte finish; Cadillac ought to look into that. It would cut down on fingerprints, as well.
Leatherette (imitation leather) is standard on the base (Luxury) and Sport trim levels, while real leather is standard on the Premium Luxury and optional on other trims in the Comfort and Convenience Package, which also adds more adjustments to the front passenger seat as well as massage and ventilation features to both front seats. I experienced only these optional seats, which were comfortable, though I wouldn't mind a little more thigh support from the front seats; a cushion extension would be great.
Outward visibility to the rear isn't great due to giant D-pillars, but it's mitigated by the optional Rear Camera Mirror, which is adjustable for height and zoom. The front cupholders aren't very large, which becomes even more frustrating once you realize the front door pockets don't have integral bottle holders.
On the flip side, I particularly like the optional 15-watt wireless smartphone charging pad because of its placement and an adjustable bottom rest that allows you to use the phone in place by raising the armrest (when the vehicle's not in motion, of course). Too many vehicles tuck these pads away. If you're not wireless, you'll find a regular USB and USB-C port both front and back, plus 12-volt outlets in the front and the cargo area.
Backseat passengers will find more space than they expect with more legroom not just than subcompact competitors, but more than compact SUVs such as the Acura RDX, Audi Q5 and BMW X3 (see them side by side). Headroom is also better than most subcompacts and even rivals the compacts; it's a bit tight for tall people alongside the optional giant glass moonroof, and the backrest doesn't recline. If you're willing to make that small sacrifice, the moonroof gives the cabin an open feel, and it's equipped with a powered shade that's opaque and thick enough to absorb sound effectively.
A roomy backseat often makes for smaller cargo volume behind it, but with the exception of the X1, which has almost 5 cubic feet more space, the XT4 is superior to most subcompacts. With their backseats lowered, the XT4's maximum volume is 10 cubic feet smaller than the X1's. In most cases, compact competitors exceed the XT4's cargo volume.
Rather than projecting a logo on the ground on either side just to show off, the XT4 uses its discreet Cadillac crest to mark where to kick your foot to operate the optional hands-free power liftgate. Neat use of the feature.
Safety and Advanced Features
As of publication, the XT4 had not been crash-tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. When it is, scores will appear here or here, depending on how IIHS classifies it. In a broader sense, the XT4's active-safety and convenience features are just barely competitive because of their limited availability across trim levels, plus it's missing one high-value feature: The base trim level comes with rear parking sensors and a backup camera, but it isn't eligible for the following features that are available on the Premium Luxury and Sport.
Front parking sensors (standard)
Blind spot warning (standard)
Rear cross-traffic alert (standard)
Forward and rear automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection (optional)
Lane departure warning and prevention (optional)
Rearview camera mirror (optional)
360-degree camera system (optional)
Adaptive cruise control (optional)
Active parking assist (optional)
One glaring omission is lane-centering steering. The optional Lane Keep Assist corrects the XT4 if it strays out of its lane, but many competitors now keep the vehicle centered in its lane — during highway driving at minimum. Though Cadillac debuted one of the most ambitious such systems, called Super Cruise, on the CT6 sedan, it won't begin to spread to other GM vehicles until 2020.
Should You Buy the Cadillac XT4?
Even though the early transmission problems don't inspire confidence, it seems the cause was clear, and there's a chance this obstacle is in the XT4's proverbial rearview mirror. If you're considering one, I'd pay as much attention to the shortcomings that aren't going to change, such as the brake pedal feel or anything else above that conflicted with your preferences. Otherwise, I found the XT4 to be a well-rounded and appealing choice with the potential to sell well.
Cars.com's Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com's long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don't accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com's advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
Executive Editor Joe Wiesenfelder, a Cars.com launch veteran, leads the car evaluation effort. He owns a 1984 Mercedes 300D and a 2002 Mazda Miata SE. Email Joe Wiesenfelder
66% of drivers recommend this car
The Cadillac Of Compact SUV's
By Jewopaho from Houston
A pleasure to drive. Virtually no turbo-lag, responsive, comfortable and stylish to boot. My Premium Luxury has all the optional packages including massaging seats (great for my wife, who suffers from chronic back issues). Drove many competitors, but none could measure up overall to this SUV.
Used for Having fun
Economical fun to drive SUV
By Bob's buggy from Niskayuna NY,
During COVID no-one is driving too far however this XT4 is just what I needed to get me around economically and have some fun doing it. I can pack all my golf gear and anything else I need.
Cadillac XT4
By WSH No XT4 from Menomonee Falls, WI
Worst vehicle I have ever owned. Rides like a hay wagon. Rear suspension thumps like shocks are shot (3,300 miles). Dealer says that just is the way it is. Had two service bulletins already. Brakes replaced. Transmission shift is counter intuitive. Push stick forward to go backward. Have to push certain buttons to shift from forward to reverse and visa versa. From "Park" you can't shift into Drive w/o pushing buttons but you can go from reverse to drive w/o button push.??? Safety systems stops vehicle when you need to rapidly get out of the way of other vehicle; i.e. meeting another vehicle at entrance to underground parking. Other driver blows red light--you can't accelerate as to deviate to safety.
Does not recommend this car
14 people out of 26 found this review helpful. Did you?
See all 107 consumer reviews
New car and Certified Pre-Owned programs by Cadillac
Less than 50,000 miles
4 year, 50,000 miles bumper-to-bumper
6 years/100,000 miles (2012-2017 models)
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Have you noticed how some people seem to happily potter for hours in their garden oblivious of the cares of the world, or others who can unwind the minute they are outside, smelling the roses, pulling up a weed, snipping here and there. Maybe they love digging up the spuds and picking the home-grown peas, or just stepping out and breathing in the natural air and energy of the plants around them.
It seems to me that a lot of people head out into the garden as a tonic and respite from the hustle and bustle of hectic city life. So what is it about gardening or just being in the garden that has such a calming influence?
Well, for those whose idea of a tonic is one with a gin in it and whose respite from stress involves a brick wall and lots of head butting, then here is an alternative view according to the "Gardener's Philosophy".
We'll take it as given that gardening as an activity is generally good for fitness and health - lots of fresh air and some physical activity, so it's already in the category of "good for well-being". However, it may just seem like a lot more work to you - digging, pulling up weeds, mowing lawns, watering, planting, feeding - oh my, I'm getting tired just thinking about it now!
But, "Gardeners" know how to work smart and they have a different "Way".
Sure, you can do it the hard way and work, work, work until it is picture perfect, spotless, not a leaf out of place and you are too worn out to enjoy it's beauty. Or, you can observe, watch nature, go with the flow of the natural order and let nature do a lot of the hard work for you. And this is the major difference between the approach of the "gardener" and the "Gardener".
One views the garden as an extension of the household and as something that has to be cleaned, manicured and tidied regularly (ie just more chores). The other believes in the "Garden" as an entity, a community, a creation to be enjoyed, visited, played with, nurtured. Some may describe it as a canvas on which they leave their own creative marks, but it is never static, it is always changing, shaping and reforming from one moment to the next.
The "gardener" generally has a picture of exactly how their garden should be and tries to freeze it into their perfect moment. This ultimately involves a lot of effort on their part because what they are trying to do is stop time and halt the natural living flow.
The "Gardener" on the other hand recognises that they are dealing with a living, breathing creation that they can participate in, modify, shift, explore, harvest. They generally get more out of the garden than the energy they expend in it. They are happy to moderate, shift and flow with the creation. They are god in their own universe in that they can choose and select, nurture or cull, encourage, train or deter.
That is why "spade leaning" is an important activity of the "Gardening" devotee. How can you know what is best for your own little plot of creation if you ignore it's community and just start reshaping it without any idea of what you are working with or what will be accepted? If you stop and observe for a while, think about what you are trying to achieve and let it mull while leaning on that handy device "the spade", you will see more, learn more, understand more and find your "Way" with much less effort.
On a practical level, you've probably read of some of the obvious labour/resource saving ways of gardening such as mulching to keep weeds down and reduce watering, but every garden is different and what works in one situation isn't always right for another. So time spent looking at your own little plot, seeing what nature does without any interference will pay off later when you are not trying to fix the problem you caused, while fixing a different problem, as a result of changing things before knowing what you know now!
And, even if there is nothing for it but to do some digging (sometimes it just can't be avoided), then don't just approach it as a big chore that has to be done, head down and dig, dig, dig! Pace yourself (it will hurt less later) and every now and then perform a bit more "spade leaning". Not only will it benefit your back, but it will give you an opportunity to admire just how much you have dug - but, never, ever look back at what is left to do! It will also allow you time for more observing in case you are visited by more inspiration and a better idea than digging and it will keep the birds away because they will probably think you are a scarecrow.
There is always more than one way to approach life. There's an easy way, a hard way and many variations in between.
If you think that perfection can only come as a result of hard work, or if you think that you are being lazy if it is too easy, or that it can't be real if it doesn't hurt, or that life is meant to be stressful - you really, really, really, need to do some "spade leaning"!


The World Federation Against Drugs is proud to present The Protection of Children from Illicit Drugs - A Minimum Human Rights Standard, a report written by Roxana Stere, a doctoral student at SNSPA University in Bucharest, and lawyer Stephan Dahlgren, former Head of Child Protection for UNICEF in Zambia.
This report is a legal analysis of how human rights should be respected in the field of drug policy. The authors have reviewed international law governing both drug policy and human rights. They also examined statements from 20 international organizations and five UN agencies, which are active in this field.
The main finding of the report is that Article 33 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (often referred to as CRC) is the only one of the nine conventions governing human rights dealing with illicit drugs.
There can be no mistaking of the meaning and intention of what CRC Article 33 aims to. It reads: "States Parties shall take all appropriate measures, including legislative, administrative, social and educational measures, to protect children from the illicit use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances as defined in the relevant international treaties and to prevent the use of children in the illicit production and trafficking of such substances."
Thus, it is an obligation of every country that has ratified CRC to protect and sustain children's human rights to ensure a drug-free childhood. (Children are defined as persons under 18.) CRC is the most widely ratified of all conventions related to human rights. CRC Article 33 must always be the basis for any discussion of drug policy and human rights, internationally as well as nationally.
This is a critical moment for drug prevention because so many people are confused by those whom we broadly label the anti-prohibitionists and who commonly label their goals as "harm reduction." In doing this, they reject the more than 100 year-old global commitment to protect people from illicit drugs by rejecting the drug-free goal in both prevention and treatment. Shockingly, this is done under the banner of human rights.
One of the latest examples is the Global Commission on HIV and the Law - Risks, Right and Health, published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Recommendation No 3.1.4 of the report reads: "decriminalize possession of drugs for personal use, as the net effect of such sanctions is often harmful to society." Interestingly the Swedish foreign aid authority Sida is one of the financiers of the report. Should Sweden follow Recommendation 3.1.4, it would lead to major changes in Sweden's drug policy, in breach of the UN drug conventions.
The World Federation Against Drugs (WFAD), an international network of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) based in Sweden, recently published a sharply differing report titled, The Protection of Children from Illicit Drugs - A Minimum Human Rights Standard, authored by Roxana Stere, a doctoral student at SNSPA University in Bucharest, and attorney Stephan Dahlgren, a former Head of Child Protection for UNICEF in Zambia.
"States Parties shall take all appropriate measures, including legislative, administrative, social and educational measures, to protect children from the illicit use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances as defined in the relevant international treaties and to prevent the use of children in the illicit production and trafficking of such substances."
Thus, the world's children (defined as persons under age 18) have an affirmative and essential right to drug-free childhoods. Further, it is the obligation of every country to protect and defend that right. The CRC is the most widely ratified treaty within international law and among human rights instruments (only the United States and Somalia have not ratified the CRC). CRC Article 33 must be the starting point for any discussion of drug policy and human rights, internationally as well as nationally.
How do the anti-prohibitionist arguments conform to actual human rights law, and especially to CRC Article 33? Over the last five to ten years, several intensely anti-prohibitionist NGOs broadened their scope from talking about "people who cannot stop using drug" (addicts), to include "people who do not want to stop using drugs." These organizations want to define the nonmedical use of illicit drugs as a protected lifestyle choice, for which there is no support in any of the international conventions. According to these NGOs, recreational illicit drug users must be seen as a vulnerable group in society and their decisions to use illicit drugs must be protected as a human right. These advocates seek to award any illicit drug user, whether addicted or not, the protected victim status – while their drug use continues – a status that human rights instruments today only award to very select groups such as trafficked women and children, political refugees, etc.
"The war on drugs has failed" is the most common argument from the international NGOs that want to weaken or abolish the UN drug conventions. This "war" is not called for anywhere in the conventions; it is a pejorative and inflammatory term only used by those who oppose the prohibition of illegal drug use. Even so, a "war" on illegal drug use is not prohibited by any human rights convention any more than is a war against poverty/racism/cancer or any other social or health problem. None of the NGOs examined in the Stere-Dahlgren report have defined what constitutes the "war on drugs" which they seek to stop. There is no definable legal meaning of this term in the context of human rights, and therefore it is a non-argument.
Unfortunately, the idea of drug decriminalization/legalization has a strong tailwind in the world at present. The international drug policy debate today focuses on drug-using adults and has overshadowed the moral and legal obligation to protect children from drugs. If the world put the necessary spotlight on the group most vulnerable to drugs, children, the debate would dramatically change. Drug abuse most commonly starts in adolescence, when the brain is uniquely vulnerable. Childhood is the time when drug habits are established, including for most children even today, a drug-free lifestyle. It is crucial how a society succeeds in its ambitions to protect children from drugs, including their own use and involvement in drug production and sale, and use by their caretakers. The right to a drug-free childhood under CRC Article 33 is an obligation for all countries to work to protect and a concern for all adults in the world to rally behind.
Sweden has a special responsibility in this matter with unique experience in drug policy and as an important funder of UNICEF. Maria Larsson, Minister for Children and the Elderly, delivered a well-received speech on 21 March 2011 in Vienna, at the meeting of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, in which she pointed to the obligation of UN States to fulfill their obligation to protect children from illicit drugs according to the CRC Article 33. This was one of the few occasions when Article 33 attracted international attention at the highest level. But speech alone, even a brilliant speech like Minister Larsson's, is not enough. Now is the time for strong political action! The Swedish government should urge UNICEF – and make funds available – to conduct a thorough analysis of CRC Article 33 and its practical implications on drug policy. UNICEF should also be instructed to recommend methods for nations to use to identify how they protect children from drugs and assess to what extent they live up to the obligations of CRC Article 33.
Robert L. DuPont, M.D., President of the Institute for Behavior and Health, Inc., a non-profit organization in Rockville, Maryland USA (www.ibhinc.org). Previously, he was the first Director of the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and served as White House Drug Chief for both Presidents Nixon and Ford.
Kerstin Käll, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer at the Dependency Clinic, University Hospital, Linköping Sweden.
Per Johansson, Secretary of the Board of WFAD, representing Europe. He is also Secretary General of the Swedish National Association for a Drug-free Society (RNS).


I collect and read grimoires - books of spells, invocations, and magical instructions. My focus is on early modern European grimoires in the Christian tradition.
As I read, I index the information in these grimoires into the graph database behind Grimoire.org. Many spells (not to mention demons, fairies, miscellaneous bits of metadata, et cetera) appear in multiple grimoires, and the edges of the graph highlight these connections between books.
One such connection which I have discovered in the course of my reading is a very particular way of using a bird's tongue for magical ends.
To Understand the Song of Birds.
Take the tongue of a vulture, lay it for three days and three nights in honey, afterward under your tongue, and thus you will understand all the songs of birds.
Both of these spells are from The Egyptian Secrets of Albertus Magnus, a grimoire that is neither Egyptian nor connected to Albertus Magnus, but rather a German spell-book which first appeared in Cologne in 1725.
When you are attending judicial proceedings, place a swallow's tongue under your tongue. The case will go in your favor.
These spells are from The Black Books of Elverum, a grimoire discovered by Mary Rustad in an attic in Norway. It is a charmingly diabolic text, hand written, likely between 1790 and 1820.
Although these are distinct spells, with different outcomes and somewhat varied rituals, the similarity is striking. A bird's tongue is placed under ones own tongue, invoking the magician with magically enhanced powers of speech.
If we analyze the principles of thought on which magic is based, they will probably be found to resolve themselves into two: first, that like produces like, or that an effect resembles its cause; and, second, that things which have once been in contact with each other continue to act on each other at a distance after the physical contact has been severed.
It makes sense, given this principal, that a bird's tongue can confer the extraordinary vocal ability of the bird to a human; like produces like.
Why do both these grimoires, which are otherwise quite different, share this particular technique? It may be that the author of the Black Books had read Egyptian Secrets, or it may have reached both authors through the oral tradition of folk magic. It may not be possible to say for sure where the idea first originated, or precisely how it was spread.
At any rate, if anyone out there does try to speak in court with a swallow's tongue under their own, I would like to wash my hands of all responsibility, and beg them to tell me how it goes.
The natural story of bird tongues is no less interesting than the supernatural one. I recommend Laura Erickson's exploration of the varied anatomy and function of bird tongues. And if you enjoy that, you may also enjoy another hyper-specific bird-related book, Feathers by Thor Hanson.


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Q: How is load balancing achieved while sending data to the reducers in Hadoop As we know, that during the copy phase of hadoop, each of the reduce worker processes read data from all mapper nodes and perform a merge of the already sorted data (was sorted during in-memory sorting on the mapper side) and work on their share of keys and their values.
Now, we also know that all the data corresponding to a particular will go to only one reducer.
My question is : How is the data split to be transferred to the reducers i.e. how is the partition size decided and by what process is it decided as the data is transferred using a pull mechanism instead of a push mechanism. An interesting challenge to counter here would have been to determine the overall size of the data as the data resides on multiple nodes (I am guessing that the job tracker/master process may be aware of the size and location of data for all the nodes, but I am not sure on that too).
Wouldn't it be a performance penalty in terms of parallel processing if the data is highly skewed and most of it belongs to a single key where there are 10 or more reducers. In this case, only one reducer process would be processing most of the data in a sequential fashion.
Is this kind of a situation handled in Hadoop? If yes, how?

A: How is the data split to be transferred to the reducers i.e. how is the partition size decided and by what process is it decided as the data is transferred using a pull mechanism instead of a push mechanism. An interesting challenge to counter here would have been to determine the overall size of the data as the data resides on multiple nodes (I am guessing that the job tracker/master process may be aware of the size and location of data for all the nodes, but I am not sure on that too).
Splitting of data into partitions is governed by the logic written inside getPartition(KEY k, VALUE v, int numOfReducers) present in the Partitioner abstract class. The default Hadoop partitioner is the HashPartitioner. The behavior is to make use of the Object.hashCode() method of the key and performs a modulo against the numOfPartitions. You can write your Partitioner if you find that HashPartitioner is not that efficient in your case.
As map tasks complete successfully, they notify their parent TaskTracker of the status update, which in turn notifies the JobTracker. These notifications are transmitted over the heartbeat communication mechanism. This is how everything stays in sync.
Wouldn't it be a performance penalty in terms of parallel processing if the data is highly skewed and most of it belongs to a single key where there are 10 or more reducers. In this case, only one reducer process would be processing most of the data in a sequential fashion. Is this kind of a situation handled in Hadoop? If yes, how?
Yes. It is true. The MapReduce framework provides different types of Partitioner which you can choose as per your requirements :

*

*HashPartitioner, the default partitioner

*TotalOrderPartitioner. It provides a way to partition by range

*KeyFieldBasedPartitioner. Thie partitioner provides a way to partition the data by parts of the key.

If you are still unsatisfied you can implement your own logic. See this if you need some help on how to write a custom partitioner.
HTH
P.S. : I didn't quite get the second part of your first question. Let me know if the answer is not clear or if you need any further clarification.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Home Celebrities Nicki Minaj's Baby Boy "Papa Bear," Is 11 Months Old
Nicki Minaj's Baby Boy "Papa Bear," Is 11 Months Old
Rapper and singer Nicki Minaj gave birth to a son in September. Nicki made it known to her followers on Instagram that she was expecting her first child with her husband, Kenneth Petty.
Nicki Minaj's baby boy, whom she refers to as "Papa Bear" in public, is 11 months old and growing healthy. The singer gave birth on September 30, 2020, in Los Angeles.
January 2, 2021, Nicki posted her son on Instagram and captioned it;
"#PapaBear thank you so very much for choosing me to be your mama 🎀🦄🙏 Wishing you guys a happy & prosperous New Year. Thank you for your love & support throughout this journey. It's meant so much to me. Becoming a mom is by far the most fulfilling job I've ever taken on. Sending love to all the superhero mothers out there. Big hugs to all the women who have been pregnant during this challenging time."
To date, Nicki Minaj's baby boy, who is 11 months old real name has not been disclosed yet. Nicki didn't show off her son until late October 2020, when she posted a close-up of his little foot with the caption "Happy Anniversary, my love ❤. "
In 2018, the "Anaconda" artist began dating her childhood friend Kenneth Petty, and they got married officially on October 21, 2019. Minaj added his last name to hers upon marriage, becoming Maraj-Petty.
Nicki is an ex of American Rapper and songwriter Safaree Samuels. The rapper, widely regarded as one of the best female rappers of all time, began her relationship with her longtime boyfriend in 2003. After several years of been love birds, Nicki and Samuels ended their relationship in 2014. According to Nicki, Safaree proposed to her, but she declined.
Relates Post: Actor Michael K Williams Dies At Age 54
After a break-up with Safaree and declining his proposal, Nicki Minaj began to hop into the love boat with rapper Meek Mill in 2015. In early 2017 Nicki and Meek called it quit. Nicki took it to her Twitter page, writing, "Yes, I am single. Focusing on my work and looking forward to sharing it with you guys really soon".
Nicki Minaj and Nas became a hot item in 2018, and in less than a year, they broke up due to the constraints of their distance relationship.
Previous article 10 Best Self-Care Tips During Covid-19 Pandemic
Next article Nicki Minaj vs. Cardi B: Who Has Most Awards And Records?
Nicki Minaj Reached 22.5M Followers On Twitter September 13, 2021 At 4:05 pm
[…] Nicki Minaj is the only female rapper to reached 22.5 million followers on Twitter and comes 4th on the list of the rappers with the most followers on Twitter. Minaj is also taking the #1 spot as the rapper having the most followed Instagram account, with 154million followers. […]
Nicki Minaj Shares Adorable New Photos With Her Son On Instagram September 13, 2021 At 4:11 pm
[…] another video, Papa bear rolling in a walker as his mother compliment his […]
Nicki Minaj Confirms Wassim Sal As Her New Manager September 17, 2021 At 6:14 am
[…] Nicki Minaj's manager Wassim Sal sold the CP music group to Live Nation in 2011. Wassim Sal partnered with the Maverick Management consortium five years later and brought The Weeknd, Belly, French Montana, and Massari on board. […]


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in: Trope, Narrative Devices, Drama Tropes,
Rule of Drama
Drama Bomb
The Drama Bomb is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. In the world of fiction, among the marching armies of tropes and conquering generals, it is a weapon of power scarcely imagined.
When a story has been coasting along quite well and nothing really strange is happening, beware. This is exactly the kind of environment writers can't stand. After all, a story without conflict is dull, and no-one likes a dull story, right? So, just when you think everything has settled, they pull out the best weapon they can bring to bear on your sensibilities. Their blitzkrieg attack will leave you stunned, shocked, yet wanting for more.
That is the raison d'être of the Drama Bomb. If successful, the event portrayed creates instant and justified character development and ties the audience even closer to their fate. The more it is used, however, the less powerful it becomes. After all, if an orphan gets slaughtered in every episode of your TV serial, people aren't going to look up from what they're doing if it happens again. The Drama Bomb is defined by its power, and if it loses this, it becomes a regular trope. As such, its usage is mostly reserved to comedy or other lighthearted media.
Similar to Very Special Episode, except the consequences carry and a lesson needn't be learned. Can be the first sign of Cerebus Syndrome, but not always.
Also see: Wham! Episode, Killed Off for Real, and Drama Bomb Finale.
Warning: High chance of spoilers.
Examples of Drama Bomb include:
1 Anime and Manga
2 Fanfic
5 Live-Action TV
6 Web Comics
7 Web Original
8 Video Games
9 Western Animation
A weird (possibly accidental) one came later in the manga of Ranma ½: the series is generally full of Ineffectual Death Threats, and even in the more serious bits we never see anyone die. Even childhood abuse was largely played as a form of Comedic Sociopathy. Not so with Ryu Kumon's backstory: his father used a Dangerous Forbidden Technique Genma taught him that made his house fall on top of him with his last words to find the other technique, leaving the kid orphanned and homeless at the age of six. Goddamn was that depressing.
Kirby of the Stars provides examples of both the use and overuse of the Drama Bomb. A fairly early episode has Kirby get a robo-puppy that becomes something of a little brother to him. The episode ends with the puppy sacrificing itself to save Kirby. The overuse comes when they do this two additional times. By the third self-sacrifice, you can't help thinking "Oh, not again."
A massive Drama Bomb hits Toradora! halfway through the series (starting with Yuusaku's breakdown and ending with Taiga realizing she loves Ryuuji). It's never quite the same again.
Kekkaishi: after Gen dies in combat, the other characters hold a funeral for him. It's more of a Drama Nuke since Gen's closest acquaintances remember him, Masamori gives Gen's grieving sister unanswered letters, and Yoshimori goes through a temporary Heroic BSOD over Gen's passing. However, for a few subsequent episodes, the aftermath left by said Drama Nuke is noticeable, but some funny moments pop up time after time.
The 20th Episode of Fresh Pretty Cure is all about this. The tone was already bleak, it being about how the strain of being Pretty Cure and the dance lessons took a toll on Love, Miki and Inori physically (and to an extent psychologically) but it all reaches its peak when they collapse after the battle with the Nakisakebe and on the way to the dance lessons with Miyuki. Bonus Points if you like Eas. She has only 2 uses of the Pyramid Card, which will eventually kill her if she runs out and refuses Wester's and Souler's offer to take her place...
Panty and Stocking With Garterbelt, episode 12. It's been its own vulgar, widgety self for the first half, then everything goes to hell. Literally.
Mawaru Penguindrum gets hit with one halfway through the series (Episode 12): Himari dies, seemingly permanently. The Takakura parents are revealed to have been responsible for the 1995 terrorist attacks. And the penguin hat stops working. Things go downhill from there.
In the Super Smash Bros fanfiction Smash Generation, it seemed as if everything was going smoothly for the heroes, and then Toon Link gets almost eaten by Molgera, and nearly dies.
Total Drama Comeback's ninth episode serves as one, though Fore Shadowed beforehand: Harold suffers a massive allergy attack due to the eating contest being sabotaged, and the alliance that had controlled most of the eliminations up to this point is revealed to the rest of the campers.
Chapter 15 of Ace Combat: The Equestrian War. And let's leave it at that.
The martial arts movie House Of Flying Daggers does pretty well with its drama and plot for the most part...but just try to keep up with the last quarter of the movie. The two government agents find the rebels, and it is revealed that one of the agents is actually working for the rebels and in love with the lady protagonist, also an agent of the Flying Daggers. But it turns out the leader of the Flying Daggers is NOT the leader of the Flying Daggers, our lady isn't blind, and is in love with the agent still pro-government and...
In Dead Poets Society, everything looks like it's worked itself out, at least to some extent. Then Neil shoots himself.
The inspirational film Courageous, One of the dads was caught stealing drugs! And that was after the pretty awesome moment where one of the dads gets a promotion for passing a Secret Test of Character.
The illness of Red's daughter in Roadside Picnic, forcing him to become even more of a bastard.
In the Skulduggery Pleasant novel Dark Days. The magical world has been saved, the villian stopped and the Gaelic Football goes on. Then Bang: the second Desolation Engine goes off and the Sanctuary is destroyed. By a seemingly one-shot side character, no less.
Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan had risen about as far in the US Administration as he could in Debt of Honor: part of the sell for making him Vice President was that once his term was done, he'd never be able to work for the US Government again. And then a lunatic crashed a 747 into Congress. Meet President Ryan.
In Jane Eyre, first we were surprised by Rochester proposing marriage to Jane - though we did sort of see it coming. But when Rochester's insane but very alive first wife turns up in the attic, Jane is so shaken by the incident that the only thing she can do is leave.
Literal in The Stand, in the form of the bomb Harold and Nadine set off inside the house where the Free Zone committe is meeting, killing several people including a main character and injuring several more. King specifically said he used this tactic because it was getting too dull.
Live-Action TV
In Buffy the Vampire Slayer the bomb was dropped more than once, most potently when her mom died. However, this show suffered the flaw of overuse, to the point where season 6 seemed to consist of nothing but Drama Bombs (and a Musical Episode).
Back in 1996, General Hospital had a very memorable drama bomb Montage called Clink!Boom which juxtaposes a mobster's ex-girlfriend toasting her new husband while his current pregnant girlfriend turned the key in the ignition of their car and it exploded. Ever since, the show has been trying to top itself with mob violence, even going so far as to make the month of February Sweeps a 16 hour hostage crisis told in the same style as 24. Nowadays, GH fans are used to seeing at least a dozen mob shootouts and one or two legacy characters dying violent deaths a year.
One of Scrubs's biggest Drama Bombs were the episodes "My Lunch" and "My Fallen Idol". Interestingly, the Drama Bombs rarely affect the whole cast; for example, while in "My Lunch" Dr. Cox and JD are both profoundly affected by the deaths, Carla, Turk, and Elliot are busy sorting out The Todd's sexuality, apparently oblivious to the other goings on.
Officer deaths in The Bill
Michael's killing of Ana-Lucia and Libby was a much-needed Drama Bomb in a stagnant part of Lost season 2.
Happened a few times in M* A* S* H. The best example is in the Season 3 finale. For the most part, the episode is a celebration for Henry's discharge. The bomb comes in the last thirty seconds, when Radar comes into the OR with the news Henry had died in a plane crash. Retirony, much?
The first two seasons of Star Trek: Enterprise were full of Archer and the gang staring at pretty comets, bitching about Vulcans, and saying 'Gee Whiz' a lot. And then came....The Xindi....
LA Law made it onto a list of great TV moments purely through one of these. Snarky Rosalind had been tormenting the rest of the cast all season--then she took a wrong step and fell down an elevator shaft.
Oh geez. The NCIS: Los Angeles episode "Missing" was a drama nuke.
The bus crash in the opening episode of the second season of Veronica Mars.
Doctor Who season openers are usually pretty laid back, fun-romps which exist to introduce new characters (if there are any). This was blow out of the water with the opening episode to Season 6, "The Impossible Astronaut" has the Doctor begin to regenerate, and then die. The finale showed it was only supposed to look like that, but the Doctor's companions didn't know this until the same time as the audience.
Ctrl+Alt+Del with Lilah's miscarriage. A massive Drama Bomb for a previously light-hearted comic.
Dave Willis loves this trope. To death. Especially jarring considering that he keeps his comedic characters still somewhat-comedic (though never the same) as he drops bomb after bomb after bomb on them. He seems to at least be aware of it if his Lampshade Hanging in the Story Arc about "Pulling the Drama Tag" in Shortpacked! is any indication.
Many drama bombs occur at the end of issue 9 in the webcomic YU+ME: dream, the biggest of which was that everything up until that point was a dream. Thankfully that is not the end of the series or there would have been some very pissed off fans.
Mob Ties: the first bomb begins at the end of Issue 2, but the author starts a heavy bombardment starting at Issue 7. Once Issue 14 rolls around, though, the HSQ raises Up to Eleven.
Web Original
Doctor Horribles Sing Along Blog, Act three. Everything has pretty well ironed out at the end--Captain Hammer is defeated, the Doctor is brushing himself off, and all in all things could've gone much worse... And then the camera pans to Penny with a piece of shrapnel in her chest.
Note: As video games base themselves entirely around some kind of conflict (even if it's a very abstract conflict, such as in puzzlers like Tetris, whose conflict is between the continual descent of blocks and the player keeping the blocks from piling up by arranging them in rows as they fall), and since video games have been adapting more complex narratives since their outset, attempting to list all video games that employ the Drama Bomb would take up a vast amount of space (even if the specific Drama Bombs themselves weren't listed, would require endless amounts of patience, research, and reference, and would be no fun.
Avatar: The Last Airbender had a few well-spaced ones, but of particular note was the cluster Drama Bomb towards the end of Season 2, where an episode ends with Sokka blithely mentioning how smoothly things have been going, followed by Toph getting captured by Xin Fu and Master Wu, Long Feng being revealed to still control the Dai Li, and instead of Suki and the Kyoshi Warriors coming to the aid of Ba Sing Se, it's actually Azula and friends in disguise.
To recap: The Earth Kingdom city of Ba Sing Se, a city that the Fire Nation had been trying to breach for the better part of a hundred years, fell in two days. The EK army was immobilized after its generals were captured, and the Earth King was forced to retreat. Not only that, but Zuko ended up betraying his uncle, the only man who had ever been a real father to him, in order to get his birth father's approval. And Aang got killed by Azula. All in the space of about forty minutes. It remains the single greatest Wham! Episode of the series.
South Park has taken a few occasions to break from it irreverence and do this. Most important was the end of Season 5's 'Kenny Dies' episode as the Killed Off for Real plot is played disturbingly straight with Kyle and particularly Stan acting very much like kids. The kids spend much of season 6 making references to wanting Kenny back.
Season 15 spent the first half being typically silly until the episode "You're Getting Old" as Stan goes through a fall out with friends and major changes in his life and unlike previous episodes with a breakup, it doesn't get better by the end.
Galaxy Rangers has a few serious jaw-droppers; "Psychocrypt" and "Scarecrow." Both ran on tanks full of The Bad Guy Wins on both (The Rangers' "victory" is merely getting out with their skins and souls intact), and the Character Development quotient was through the goddamn roof. The two episodes are considered jewels in the series crown. Two more jewels are the Supertrooper duology. Massive Character Development for Gooseman, including one of the most gut-wrenching I Want My Beloved to Be Happy scenes ever done.
Adventure Time's Lumpy Space Princess name-drops the trope, complete with Valley Girl gestures and inflection, during Marcelline's confrontation with her father: "Oh my glob, you guys — drama bomb!"
Jake actually said "Drama Bomb" while Finn, Jake and Ice King watched a secret tape of the Ice King's dramatic past.
The 2nd Season Finale could count as a example for the show itself.
In another episode, "What Was Missing", the aforementioned Marceline sings a song to Princess Bubblegum about how she resents that she's malicious towards her for a reason she can't remember. (The two have barely interacted in the show up to that point.) The song practically comes out of nowhere, and Princess Bubblegum is reasonably surprised.
Danny Phantom's Drama Bomb was jawdropping, not least for its awesomeness, abruptness, as well as its sudden venture into dark humour. Oh yes, and the brutal murders, so many brutal murders.
Drama Tropes


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Games (paid)
A Story of a Band
Released: Oct 3, 2013
Ranking - Games (iPhone)
Ranking - Games (iPad)
Veli-Matti Tormanen
*** Pocket Gamer Awards 2013 Nominee for Best Simulation/Strategy Game ***
Put on your leather jacket, grab your guitar and lead your band to success in this management game filled with attitude!
"My mind is not as clear as it used to be, but I believe it was 1965 when we started. Our manager was a pretty peculiar fellow, 'cause we never even saw him (or was it her?) in person. Instead we got our orders through some kind of a mobile device. It felt strange at first, but it worked well.
Our days were filled with typical band activities: we made albums, toured, went to interviews, performed on TV and trained relentlessly. We learned various skills and spent our hard earned cash on items that helped us on our journey. Occasionally we had to prove our worth by facing other bands in a Battle of the Bands contest.
We used to experiment a lot, trying different styles of music. There were plenty of genres to choose from, and each one gave us sort of special powers. We even founded a couple of genres ourselves.
During the first years, we had this underground thing going on. We had a nasty reputation and lots of loyal fans. But as our fame grew, people started accusing us of selling out, and little by little our music became more mainstream. We developed a line of merchandise, and money started pouring in. Eventually we even had our very own record label, and we started producing albums for other bands.
Everything didn't always go smooth, and we sure had our share of problems. Our bassist was a heavy drinker and spent lot of time in rehab. We also had to kick out our original singer because his attitude towards the rest of us became unbearable, and we grew tired of fighting with him.
All in all, those were pretty fun times, and I would definitely do it all again. If only there was a way to save and load in life!"
- From the biography of Mike Metalhead, the rhythm guitarist of Metallic Cats
Fixed a freezing issue.
WARNING: OLD SAVE GAMES AND ACHIEVEMENTS WON'T WORK AFTER THIS UPDATE!
This is a major update. The whole game engine has been rebuilt, all of the graphics have been greatly improved and the user interface has been renewed. There's also tons of new content.
- Game begins now in year 1965 instead of 1975
- 4 new genres
- 40 subgenres that grant permanent bonuses for your band
- Stadium tours
- New end-game challenge
- Many new mini-games
- Band policies
- Official merchandize
- New items and skills
- And many other small things...
+ A Story of a Band is a highly rated app (4.5-star).
Developer: BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. || Version: 9.2.7
Fruit Ninja Classic
Developer: Halfbrick Studios || Version: 2.4.6
Sniper 3D: Gun Shooting Games
Developer: Fun Games For Free || Version: 3.24.4


text:
Douglas David Fernandes (13 de diciembre de 1983) es un futbolista brasileño que se desempeña como centrocampista. Jugó para clubes como el Roasso Kumamoto.

Trayectoria

Clubes

Estadística de carrera

J. League

Referencias

Futbolistas de Brasil
Futbolistas del Roasso Kumamoto
Nacidos en Ceará

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Cet article donne une Liste des métropoles du Massachusetts aux États-Unis.

Une région (ou aire) métropolitaine aux États-Unis se définit par une approche fonctionnelle et non comme en Europe par une approche historique. Elle consiste en un noyau de comtés urbanisés auquel sont rattachés d'autres comtés contigus sur des critères basés sur le degré d'intégration économique et social (la région métropolitaine prend le nom de la ou des villes les plus importantes incluses dans ce noyau).

Autres regroupements
 Les aires métropolitaines de Boston, de Providence et de Worcester font partie de la mégapole du Grand Boston :  habitants
 BosWash : Mégalopole de la Côte-Est allant de Boston à Washington :  habitants

Notes et références

Massachusetts
metropole


Valley Of Bath were recently commissioned by the owners of Doynton House a 17th century manor house and gardens, we were asked to replicate some of the existing shelving units and replace an existing gated entrance to a walled garden with a like for like replacement.
We firstly gauged and prepared all the new shelving components from tulip and then machined them to be exact replicas of the existing system in place, this was then finished in Farrow & Ball paints completely matching with the current scheme.
The gated entrance was reproduced using Accoya to ensure maximum durability in the weather, we added a small vision panel created using an Accoya frame and steel bars to allow a view through two different gardens.


I had the joy of shooting the engagement of Steven Cape and Heather Carman on Saturday. They were an amazing couple to be around. Here is a tiny taste of the lovely evening. Stay tuned for their full engagement shoot blog!
Posted in All of my Entries!, Quick Pic PreviewsTagged anticipation, blog, country, couple, Cundiff Creative, engagement, flower, Friends, gravel road, happy, Heather Carman, Heather Cundiff, love, photo, Photography, red, Steven Cape, trees, weddingBookmark the permalink.